A cloud of gloom hangs over the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi following the death of Reverend Father Joseph Mokaya. The veteran priest, a pillar of the church for nearly five decades, breathed his last on Tuesday night at Mater Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of stoic service and theological brilliance.

Archbishop Philip Anyolo confirmed the news in a somber statement, triggering an outpouring of grief from the thousands of faithful whose lives Mokaya touched. From the dusty parishes of Gatundu to the bustling pews of Buruburu, Fr. Mokaya was known not just as a priest, but as a "shepherd of the people"—a man who bridged the gap between the pulpit and the street.

A Life of Service (1975-2026)

Ordained in 1975 at Our Lady of Visitation, Makadara, Fr. Mokaya's journey mirrored the growth of the church in post-independence Kenya. He was a scholar-priest, holding a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Rome, yet he chose to serve in some of the most demanding parishes.

• The Formator: Beyond the parish, his impact was felt in the seminary. As a formator at St. Mathias Mulumba Senior Seminary, Tindinyo, he molded a generation of young priests, instilling in them the discipline and humility that defined his own vocation.
• The Parishioner's Friend: At the time of his death, he was serving at the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Buruburu. Parishioners recall him as a "no-nonsense" father figure who could quote Aquinas in one breath and crack a joke in Sheng in the next.

The Final Bow

"He was a walking library of faith," said a congregant at St. Joseph Jericho, where Mokaya previously served. "He didn't just preach the Gospel; he lived it."

As funeral arrangements begin, the church prepares to bid farewell to one of its most faithful servants. Fr. Mokaya's passing is not just a loss for the clergy; it is the silencing of a voice that has guided Nairobi's Catholic community through 50 years of joy, sorrow, and transformation. His race is run, his mass is ended, but his homily will echo for generations.